For the six of every 1,000 children born in the United States with hearing loss, hearing aids can help them communicate. Yet, many insurance companies don’t cover the cost.
- Six of every 1,000 children born in U.S. have hearing problems
- Most insurance providers don't cover cost of hearing aids for kids
- Keeping their two children in hearing aids proving costly for one family
The Gasca family in Glendora knows well the value of hearing aids. Two of their three children are hearing impaired, and rely on hearing aids to learn.
“It helps me so I can hear everyone and I can hear the teacher speaking,” said 10-year-old Noah Gasca.
Noah has been wearing a hearing aid since he was eight weeks old, and his sister Miranda since she was six weeks old. Their parents Juan and Joan have had to pay the cost without help from their insurance company.
“It’s been very difficult,” said Joan Gasca. “In the past we’ve paid up to $5,000 dollars for each hearing aid. They need to be replaced every five years for the rest of their life. This is not temporary.”
That’s $10,000 dollars each time they go to the doctor for new hearing aids. In order to pay the bill, both mom and dad say they work overtime and sacrifice time with their kids to provide them with the device they rely on to communicate.
“Being able to hear is essential to communication,” said Christopher Stone, an audiologist at Casa Colina in Pomona. “If there is no feedback from others or their own voice, that’s not going to develop the way it needs to be.”
The hearing aid helps both kids engage in activities just like all the other children their age, which is why their parents are still confused as to why it’s not covered by their private insurance.
Insurance companies Kaiser Permanente and Blue Cross Blue Shield were contacted for comment, but did not return an immediate response.
“It’s not a luxury to be able to hear. It is a necessity. It is a medical need that the children have,” said Joan Gasca.
She says she and her husband will keep paying the cost in order to give their children what they need. But, receiving help from the insurance company one day would be music to their ears.
Help may soon be on the way.
Santa Monica Assemblymember Richard Bloom introduced legislation in on February 20 to require health insurance policies and plans to cover hearing aids for children.
Also, there are local non-profit organizations that help families cover the cost. One examples is the Hear Aid Foundation based in Orange County, which supplies hearing aids to kids in need.